Latch for counterbalanced elevator doors



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Nov. 17, 1953 P. R. DOEG LATCH FOR COUNTERBALANCED ELEVATOR DOORS Filed July 28, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet l F F C--- o c C o C 24 A 25 2 10.9 2 5% 3 55 i110 4 v V I??? 107 7? i I 5?; E E D INVENTORS- I ATTORNEY.

Nov. 17, 1953- P. R. DOEG 2,659,457

LATCH FOR COUNTEIRBALANCED ELEVATOR DOORS Filed July 28, 1950 4 Sheets Sheet 2 F D I U 4[ I j r 24 -45 FW '24 A C Gum ---34' L 3 .J L E \i 6 5 3 V 32E 1 .1

Z0 1s 34 17+ o 14,

FIG 3 PAUL 1?. D056 nd AETHUE W. (EU/(19. INVENTORS- AT ORNEY.

Nov. 17, 1953 P. R. DOEG 2,659,457

LATCH FOR COUNTERBALANCED ELEVATOR DOORS Filed July 28, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet s Z4 24 25 i 5 37 M 129 I: 25 2 26 I o- 26 t\ G l 9 o 34- I 34 as -3 u -3 FIG. 4

PA UL E 5056 ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 17, 1953 LATCH FOR COUNTERBALANCED ELEVATOR DOORS Paul R. Doeg,

Valley Stream, N.

Lynbrook, and Arthur W. Croker,

Y., assignors to The Peelle Company, Brooklyn, N. Y

Application July 28, 1950, Serial No. 176,356

4 Claims.

The latches described herein and shown in the accompanying drawings are primarily for use in connection with freight elevator doors of either the manually operated type or the motorized type.

counterbalanced freight elevator doors are each composed of a pair of vertically movable sections with the sections moving simultaneously between suitable guides in opposite directions in a vertical plane in their opening and closing movements. In order to prevent a door from being opened except when the elevator car is at the respective floor, latches are provided to maintain the door in a normally closed position and to prevent opening of the door from the fioor side thereof unless the elevator car is at that particular floor level.

We are aware that latches used in connection with counterbalanced elevator doors are old in the art and that latches have been positioned on the doors substantially midway between the edges of the doors and also at both sides of the doors. However, it will be noted that both types of latches, when used, have been manually operated.

In our present invention, we have eliminated the necessity for manual operation of the latching mechanism, and have provided a latching mechanism which is automatically operable by means of the movement of the door sections.

The principal object of the present invention is the provision of a latching mechanism which is automatic and positive in its operation.

A second object is the provision of a latching mechanism which acts as a retardant in checking the speed with which the door sections travel in closing, such retarding action being applied to the door sections by the latch members at a time when the door sections are assuming their final closing movement, and with the retarding action preventing the sections from slamming together in their closing movements.

A third object is the provision of a latch mechanism which prevents the door sections from rebounding from their fully closed position to a partially opened position by the instant, positive, and automatic engagement of the latch parts in the final closing movements of the door sections.

A still further object of the invention is the utilization of the weight of the door sections, through the latch mechanism, to hold the door sections in closed position and to prevent the rebounding thereof in their final closing movements.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the course of the following description, and that which is new will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In order that the invention and the operation thereof may be more fully understood, we will now take up a detailed description thereof in which the same will be more fully set forth, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a shaft side elevation of a counterbalanced elevator door having oppositely-disposed latches in connection therewith, and embodying the features of the invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the latch device which is located at the right side of the door and showing the latch members in engaged position.

Figure 3 is also an enlarged view of the latch device which is located at the right side of the door, but showing only the upper door section, with the same being in partially opened condition, and showing the latch members thereof and carried thereby in completely disengaged or unlatched condition.

Figure 4 is a detail right side elevation of the latch-releasing mechanism, as taken from line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a detail elevation similar to that shown in Figure 4 except that the latch lift rod is shown in lifted position, and as taken from line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a detail cated at the left side of elevation of the latch 10- the door and showing the latch parts in engaged and latched condition.

Figure 7 is a detail elevation similar to that shown in Figure 6 except with the latch parts being shown in partially disengaged condition.

Figure 8 is a detail cross section, taken on line 88 of Figure 2, and showing the relative locations of the associated latch members.

Figure 9 is a detail section-elevation of the latch parts, taken on line 9-9 of Figure 2.

Figure 10 is a detail vertical section, taken on line l0l0 of Figure 9, and showing the position of the latch arm when the latch is in latched condition.

Figure 11 is a detail section similar to that shown in Figure 10 except that the latch arm is shown in the position assumed while the latch is in disengaged condition, as more clearly shown in Figure 3.

Like characters of reference designate like parts throughout the several views.

In order that the construction and the operation of the invention may be more fully understood, we will now take up a detailed description thereof, in which the same will be more comprehensively set forth.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, A designates the upper door section while B designates the lower door section. The sections, while not being physically connected with each other, are operatively connected with each other by means of chains C and chain rods D. One end of each of the chains is secured to an appurtenance located on the upper door section, while the opposite end thereof is secured to the upper end of a chain rod D which extends downwardly therefrom with the lower end of the rod being adjustably secured to an extension'of a trucking bar E which forms a part of the lower door section. Each of the chains extend over a respec tive sheave F which is secured to an angletrack assembly G. From being had to Figure I opening movements of the door, the upper section moves upwardly and the lower section moves downwardly, while in the closing movements, the upper section moves downwardly and theplower section moves upwardly, with the two sections meeting at a point substantially midway between the sill or floor of the opening and the lintel thereof.

The latch mechanisms are provided to pre: vent the two door sections from drifting apart and normally m'aintainingcthe same in locked condition while closed.

For reasons of simplification of description, the right side latch mechanism will be described first, after which the leftside latch mechanism will be described.

Referring now tothelatch and to the associated parts thereof, I designates a latch arm which is secured to upper per section A through bracket 2 andby means of stud tlwhich provides for free pivotal movement of the latch arm with relation to the door; section. Latch arm I has a roller-receiving channel orpocket 4 and a second roller-receiving channel formed therein and locatedon opposite sides laterally thereof. Roller-receiving channel [is provided with an incline portion 6 for guiding mner' I| l therethe above, and with reference 1, it is ObViOuS that, in the into. The lower extending portion of latch arm I hasa cam surface 'l form ed on the side thereof adjacent the door sections. Aradius 8 is formedon the latch arm, and forms apart of the roller-receiving channel 4, the purpose of which isto prevent the roller Hlfrom being disengaged from its channel 4 except whenthelatch arm is actuated. The upper end of the latch arm is provided with a chain lug 9 to which the respective chain C is secured, as more, clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3.

Roller I!) is carried by thetruckingbar member E of the lower door section B, with the roller being mounted on an upstandingv lug I which is secured to the trucking bar. Roller I0 is adapted to enter channel 4 of the latch arm, as shown in Figure 2.

A housing I2 is rigidly secured to a sidesurface of guide rail assembly G in any suitable manner. A shaft I3 extends throughand projects forwardly o-fthe front. with roller arm I4v beingsecured on. the projeeting portion thereof. A latch arm-engaging roller I5 is secured on the lower end portion of roller arm I 4 with a cam-engaging roller I6 being mounted on the upper end-of the roller arm. Also secured on shaft I3, but located within housing I2 is a lock lever H which is operated by the action of roller arm Ilthrough shaft I3.

Each side of housing I2 has a vertically disposed slotted aperture I8 formed therethrough and providing for vertical movement of shaft-"I9 face of housing l2 1 which has a roller 20 positioned on each end thereof and with the rollers 20 being adapted to ride vertically within the slotted apertures I8. A slidable housing 2| is located within housing I2 and through which shaft I9 is journalled. Slidable housing 2| is channel-shaped with the opening formed by the shape thereof providing space for roller 22 to be mounted on shaft I9, as more clearly shown in Figure 9. A lift rod 23 issecured atits lower end into slidable housing 2| and having its upper end extending into electric interlock housing 24 where the upper end of the rod is secured into a suitable circuitbrealgingf switch (not shown) and which is located withinthe housing 24.

Lifting of the rod 23 is accomplished through thermeans of a lift cam 25 which is secured to therod by a loose rivet 26 or by other suitable means. Liftcam 25 is pivotally secured to a mounting plate 21 -by'mearis of a loose rivet 28, or by other suitable means. A roller-receiving surface 29 is formedin the lower surface of lift cam 25, as shown in Figures i and 5. We provide an actuating arm 30 pivotally secured to mounting plate'3|"by means of loose rivet 32 or other suitable means, and with a lifting roller 33 being secured on the side of actuating arm 30 andwith the roller 33 being adapted to ride in the roller-receiving surface 29 0f lift cam 25-. Actuating' arm 30 extends toward the elevator car and has a cam-engaging roller 34 secured in the end portion thereof,- the purpose of which will be hereinafter more fully explained."

The chain rod D carries an extending cam member 35 which is adapted to engage the camengaging roller It upon opening movement of the door. A guide 35 is located on the opposite side of chain rodD and prevents undue flexure ofthe rod upon contact of cam 35 with roller IS. The guide 35 is supported by means of brackettlwhich maybe secured to the face of the elevator shaft wall in a usual manner.

The left side latch members are complementary with the right side latch members except the same are oppositely disposed with relation thereto. Numeral IBI designates the left side latch arm which is secured to upper door section A throughbracket Hi2 and bymeans of stud I03 which provides for freepivotal movement of the latch arm with relation to thefdoor section.

Latch arm IOI has a roller-receiving channel or pocket IIMand a second roller receiving channel I05 formed therein andlocatedon opposite sides laterally thereof. Roller-receiving channel I04 is provided with an incline portion IO B for guiding ,roller I III thereinto, The lower extending portion of latch arm, IIl'I has a cam surface I01 formed on the side, thereof adjacent to the door sections. A radius I08 is formed on the latch arm and forms a part ofthe rollerreceiving channeling. The upper end of latch arm IOI is provided with achain lug I09 to which the respective chain C is secured, as more clearly shown inFigures 6 and '7.

A roller I I0 is carried by the trucking bar member Ecf the lower door section B, with the roller beingflmounted onan upstanding lug. III which is rigidly secured to the trucking bar. Roller I III is adapted to enter channel IMof the latch arm, as shown in Figure 6.

Operation With the door in closed condition, as shownin Figures 1, 2, and 6, the associated latch members are in engaged relation. In .theoperation of. the

door in opening from its closed position, the elevator car (not shown) carrying cam H (shown in Figure is stopped at the desired landing. The cam member is preferably of the electricallyoperated type and engages cam-engaging roller 34 causing the actuating arm to move from the position shown in Figure 4 to the position shown in Figure 5. With the actuating arm 30 moving to the position shown in Figure 5, roller 33 rides along roller-receiving surface 29 of the lift cam 25 and causes lift cam 25 to pivot upwardly from rivet 28 and thereby causing lift rod 23 to be raised to the position shown in Figure 5.

With the raising movement of lift rod 23, housing 2I is raised by reason of the same being secured to the lower end of rod 23. When rod 23 is raised, electrical contact of the elevator operating circuit is broken in the interlock case 24. Raising of lift rod 23 and associated housing 2| raises roller 22 clear of lock lever I1 which permits the door to be opened. Upon initial opening movement of the door, cam 35, in its downward movement, contacts cam-engaging roller I 6 and thereby causes lock lever I 1 to swing to the position shown in Figure 11 and blocking downward movement of housing 2| and lift rod 23. Also, the movement of cam-engaging roller I6 causes roller arm I4 to pivot on its shaft I3 which action causes latch arm-engaging roller I5 to move outwardly and engage the outer surface of the roller-receiving channel 5 and to swing latch arm I outwardly and thereby releasing roller I0 from within its roller-receiving channel 4, which permits the door to be freely opened. At the same time roller I0 moves out of engagement with its roller-receiving channel 4, roller III] is also in the act of disengagement with relation to its roller-receiving channel I04 by reason of the movement of the door sections.

In the closing of the door and the latching thereof the operation of the parts is reversed to that described in the unlatching and opening of the door. As the door sections assume the closed position, rollers I 0 and I I0 contact the respective cam surfaces 1 and I01 which action has a tendency to slow the movement of the door sections toward each other. When the rollers I0 and I I0 have passed the cam surfaces 1 and, I01 they enter their respective channels 4 and I04, and at the same time cam becomes disengaged from its cam-engaging roller I6. After the members have again assumed the positions as shown in Figures 2 and 6, the weight of the door sections, being suspended on rods D and chains 0, create a, pull on chain lugs 9 and I09 and thereby providing means normally maintaining the latch arms I and NH in their latched positions.

When the latch arms I and I III assume their normal latching positions as shown in Figures 2 and 6, look lever I1 is also swung free of the downward path of roller 22. Upon movement of the elevator car from the door, cam H- is disengaged from the cam-engaging roller 34 which permits the actuating arm 30 to return to the position shown in Figure 4 whereupon lift cam 25 also returns to the position shown in Figure 4 and lowering lift rod 23 to the position shown in Figure 10. Upon the lowering of lift rod 23, electrical contact is made to the elevator operating circuit and permitting movement of the elevator car away from the door.

It will be noted that, should anyone attempt to open the door without the elevator car being at that particular floor, it is possible to move the door only slightly toward open position due to did the lock lever moving into contact against roller 22. This prevents unlatching of the door and it is not possible for the door to be unlatched without roller 22 being raised to the position as shown in Figure 11.

The lift rod 23, being connected with the operation of the make and break contacts of the elevator operating circuit, makes it impossible to block the interlockin closed contact position and to operate the elevator car with a door standing open.

In the above description, taken with the drawings, it is obvious that the latching and unlatching means is entirely automatic in operation. The arrangement also provides safety features in connection with the doors and the operation thereof. The method of rollers I0 and III) riding on the respective cam surfaces 1 and I01 provides means slowing the movement of the door sections toward each other, and thereby prevent undue slamming of the door sections in closing.

The invention is shown in its preferred form, but it is to be understood that minor changes may be made in the several parts and in the arrangement thereof, insofar as the changes therein may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. In combination with a counterbalanced elevator door composed of an upper section and a. lower section movable vertically in the same plane but moving away from each other in their opening movements and moving toward each other in their closing movements, a latch mechanism comprising a latch arm located on and carried by the upper door section and having a roller-receiving channel formed therein, a roller located on and carried by the lower door section, with said roller being adapted to engage the roller-receiving channel of the latch arm, means preventing disengagement of the roller from the roller-receiving channel until the elevator car is adjacent to the door, and with slight opening movement of the door sections operating the latch mechanism to unlatched position.

2. In combination with a counterbalanced elevator door, a latch mechanism comprising a latch arm swingably secured to and carried by the upper section of said door, a roller-receiving channel formed in the latch arm, a roller located on and carried by the lower door section, with said roller being adapted to engage the rollerreceiving channel upon closing movements of the door sections, a second roller-receiving channel formed in the swingable latch arm, a roller arm pivotally secured to and carried by the upper door section and having a roller secured on the upper and lower ends thereof, with the roller on the lower end of the roller arm engaging the second roller-receiving channel of the latch arm, with the roller secured on the upper end of the roller arm being engageable by a cam carried by the door operating mechanism, and with the engagement of the upper roller of the roller arm with the cam carried by the door operating mechanism causing pivotal movement of the roller arm with the lower roller of the roller arm bearing against the second roller-receiving channel of the latch arm and swingably moving said latch arm to permit disengagement of the roller of the lower door section from the first rollerreceiving channel of the latch arm.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 2, and with means preventing pivotal movement of 8 the ronm'rm exce twhenan: elevatoi's dart is pushed by a. slight. opening movement or the 'pdsitioh'e'd adjacent the do'or, door.

4; A-1atching mechanism in 'combihati'oniwith DQE'GT a: bbuhterbalanced" elevator do'er; means pre- U ;.W; ER; venting the pperation of said latchmgtme'chanism 5 t until 'ah elevator car: cax rying a cam member is References cumm the: file: of this patent Ioeated adjacent the door, saidm'eans comprisa" mg 'a'lift 'rod ca'perableby means of amactuating UNITED PATENTS aim; with thelifting of? the 1m iodlraising said N b Nam t rod and carrying a roller: upwardly out. of: the 10 1,295,555 WW lf P- 2 9 1,381,262 Wexler June 14; 1921 path of a leek lever of the latching mechanism, and-with the unlatchings operation being: accom- 

